Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to implement a schools level national funding formula; and if he will make a statement.
It is the Department’s intention to move to a ‘hard’ national funding formula (NFF) as soon as possible. This is where schools’ actual budgets are set and allocated on the basis of a single, national formula.
The Department recognises that this will represent a significant change and the Department will work closely with local authorities, schools and others to make this transition as smooth as possible.
In 2020-21, local authorities will continue to have some flexibility on how school funding is distributed locally and in consultation with schools. This will allow for a smooth transition toward the NFF.